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The thought came to me one evening awhile back. I wanted to bless and affirm my middle daughter Marissa. It wasn’t her birthday, or Christmas, or any such special event. I just wanted to bless her… just because. Just because I am her father and wanted her to know of my love in the in between time… in the ordinary routine of day to day life. Not because she’d accomplished anything, earned good grades, or gotten a promotion. I also wanted it to be a unique gift, something that couldn’t be bought on Amazon, and came from my own time, sweat, creativity and handiwork. An idea came to me and so with a quick trip to Hobby Lobby, it was time to go to work.
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Selecting a unique grey and blue obsidian I spent several nights in my man-cave jamming to good tunes and flint-knapping three arrowheads; two smaller and matching ones for the earrings, and one a bit larger for the necklace. This uniquely colored obsidian, I had found a few years back outside the town of Tequila, in central Mexico where all Tequila in the world comes from. This town sits at the base of the gigantic 10,000’ high, Tequila Volcano, (currently inactive) and because of this volcano the surrounding area in all directions has fields of various colored obsidian used for centuries by the ancient Aztecs. It has been my quest for the past many years to research online, and then explore by vehicle and on foot with my brother-in-law Guy on each family trip to Mexico.
Once my project was completed, I wrapped them up in a tidy box and shipped them off to Marissa with a heartfelt hand-written note. I couldn’t wait for her to receive her new surprise gift. A few days later I got a call from a very exited and grateful Marissa, along with some fun photos of her wearing her new gifts!
The greatest acknowledgment of gratitude a gift-giver can receive is seeing your gift being used! I was thrilled. After all, good fathers, love to give their children good gifts. Custom made gifts, made specifically for each unique child.
Marissa is a young adult now, living in the Cities. She loves children and is working in a child-care center and excels at her work. She is quite passionate about young children. She works-out lots, goes to the gym with her boyfriend Garrett and does a fair amount of rock climbing at the local gym. She has even entered several climbing competitions; something I was always way to terrified to do. She’s beautiful, fun, independent, good with her money, hard-working and loves to laugh. I’ve always felt like we could talk about anything and everything. I feel quite fortunate.
As a dad, I believe it’s important to still be active with each of my three kids. And as most parents will testify, it’s so crazy to imagine how all three kids are so totally different in terms of personality, gifts, talents, and interests being raised under the same roof, by the same two parents. One would think they would be more similar.
Growing up, I would drag all three of my kids on all of my little adventures; camping, hunting, searching for arrowheads, collecting flint, hiking, climbing, and canoeing. They would all tag along just because they were young and wanted to be with dad, or because they “had to.” As they grew up and soon had a choice, they each weaned themselves out of those activities that they were not passionate about. So now, I look for opportunities to engage each of them one-on-one, beyond family gatherings in activities that they are passionate about.
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Karina, our eldest, and I have had numerous wilderness adventures that have been intense, extreme, and physically and mentally challenging. We love the outdoors and being active in anything with woods, mountains or lakes that takes human power to move through. Shaner and I spend hours each week playing basketball, soccer, or throwing the football or perfecting our Frisbee moves. We try to make it every year to a Vikes game and are avid movie watchers together throughout the week.
Marissa is a dancer and music lover at heart so once a year we take in a big concert for a father & daughter date night. First off was the incredible Josh Groban, followed by the amazing Michael Buble’. Both concerts were incredible!
Last fall we hit Riverdance at the historic State Theatre in Minneapolis. Their passion and skillful dancing gave me goose bumps. I was thrilled to watch Marissa who is a gifted life-long dancer, smile as she watched these phenomenally talented dancers perform. The sparkle in Marissa’s eyes and face was priceless.
Good fathers give good gifts. Good fathers love to meet their children inside of their gift packages. We love to engage with them in that unique space and activity that gives them life. Good fathers give the gift of time. Good fathers love to spend one-on-one time with each unique child. That is what good fathers do no matter what the age.
Our good and loving heavenly Father loves to spend time with each of his unique children. He loves to spend time in family gatherings like worship, Bible studies, weddings, and funerals. Just as importantly he loves to go one-on-one with each of His children, no matter what the age or period of life. He loves to meet us within our passions and gift packages to enjoy us using the gifts that he bestowed upon us.
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Imagine God’s great joy when he sees us enjoying and using our gifts! I am guessing that when you use your gifts, especially for the benefit of others, He just smiles! And when we offer up thanks, acknowledgment, gratitude and appreciation for the blessings and gifts we’ve received… that’s just like icing on the cake. Heartfelt thanks and gratitude tend to evoke the urge to give even more blessings and gift giving from good fathers.
So, get out there and use and enjoy the many gifts and blessings that God has bestowed upon you. Invite Him along with you. As a loving Father, there’s nothing more important than spending time with you in conversation! He loves and cherishes that one-on-one time with you. He especially delights when you use those gifts that you have received to bless others. And He gets all giddy and glad when you show and give heartfelt thanks and gratitude. What gifts and blessings have you experienced lately that you can acknowledge and give thanks?
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-- Rollie J.
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Our God is an extravagant God! Remember you are the cheapskate, not God. As you expect God to be more generous (being faith-filled), God will be more generous to you.
Julia Cameron “The Artists Way”
A lack of generosity refuses to acknowledge that your assets are not really yours, but God's.
Tim Keller
God made all of His creation to give. He made the sun, the moon, the stars, the clouds, the earth, the plants to give. He also designed His supreme creation, man, to give. But fallen man is the most reluctant giver in all of God's creation.
John MacArthur
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Matthew 7:11
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
James 1:17
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8
Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
Luke 6:38
Use your uniqueness to take a great risk for God!
God gives gifts, not miserly but abundantly.
God endows us with gifts so we can make Him known. God packed you on Purpose for a Purpose. Stand at the intersection of your affections and successes and find your God given uniqueness.
Rick Warren- Purpose Driven Life
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